No matter where you are or what you’re doing, there’s always the potential for an accident to occur.
More than 37,000 U.S. residents die in road crashes annually according to the Association for Safe International Road Travel (ASIRT). In 2015 alone, more than 32,000 fatal motor vehicle crashes occurred in the United States.
According to Statistica, there were more than 200 million licensed drivers in the United States and with so many drivers, the probability for an accident increases, particularly with distracted drivers. In 2016, the percentage of drivers using cell phones and other electronic devices decreased from 3.3 percent compared to 3.8 percent in 2015.
Drugs and alcohol play a factor in driving as well. More than a million drivers were arrested for driving under the influence of drugs and alcohol in 2015. Drugs other than alcohol factor in as well and are responsible for 16 percent of motor vehicle crashes.
No matter where you travel, the average person experiences three to four car accidents in their lifetime and the odds of dying in a car accident are 1 in 645. If you’re involved in a car accident, there’s potential for life-threatening injuries, loss of wages and benefits and high medical costs among numerous obstacles you might face.
If you are involved in a car accident, it’s important to seek medical attention and keep a detailed account of your injuries and the accident to strengthen your personal injury claim.
Accidents can include dog bites as well. An estimated 70 million dogs are living in U.S. households. According to research from Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, in the early 2000s, there were 4.5 million American victims of dog bites and the number of dog bites has risen steadily since the 1980s. Additionally, Dogsbite.org reports that the number of fatal dog attacks is rising. Between 2006 and 2015, the average number of fatalities per year has been 35.
Research indicates that dog bites send more than 300,000 victims to emergency rooms every year. After children, senior citizens are the second most common victims of dog bites. Last year, insurers nationwide paid nearly $700 million in claims related to dog bites according to estimates from the Insurance Information Institute.
Whether you’ve been a victim of a car accident or are a dog bite victim, an important step is to consult a personal injury attorney. Personal injury attorneys are experienced with handling claims, personal injury law and dealing with insurance companies.
Benefits to hiring a personal injury attorney include:
- Knowing Your Worth: An attorney knows what your claim is worth. Many people are unsure of how much money they can get in personal injury case and a personal injury attorney can give you a good estimate based on the specifics of your case.
- Giving You Leverage: More than 90 percent of all personal injury cases are settled pretrial, but a personal injury attorney can help give you leverage in a case. Insurance companies might be motivated to settle earlier and with a fairer amount if a personal injury attorney is in your corner.
- They’re motivated: Some personal injury attorneys don’t take a fee until a settlement is recovered. Depending on the size of a personal injury settlement, personal injury attorneys usually receive about 33 percent of it.
- Knowing the Process: Personal injury attorneys are familiar with the legal process and can help you file the proper paperwork and complete important forms. Rather than potentially getting shortchanged by insurance companies on a technicality, having a personal injury attorney helps move your claim along and get all your ducks in a row.
With such a high rate of car accidents in the United States, the chances of needing a personal injury attorney are great and consulting one has many potential benefits. Personal injury attorneys are motivated to help you, are familiar with the legal process and can give you leverage against insurance companies to increase your settlement.
Are you in need of a personal injury attorney? Sites such as DMV.org can help you find a personal injury attorney in your state and Nolo.com provides helpful hints on finding a personal injury lawyer.